Dispensing device for merchandise



1954 J. MlCHlEL DISPENSING DEVICE FOR MERCHANDISE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH MICHIEL J. MlCHlEL DISPENSING DEVICE FOR MERCHANDISE Feb. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. JOSEPH Ml CHIEL BY 5W United States Patent 0 3,122,236 DISPENSING DEVICE FGR MERCHANDISE Joseph Michiel, 336 E. Qhester St, Long Beach, N.Y. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,466 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-4412) This invention relates to a dispensing means for articles or merchandise packaged in containers.

More particularly the invention relates to a display box, tray or rack which provides means for moving the articles or containers to the front of the box or tray as articles or containers are removed from the front.

The invention generally comprises a box of Wood, metal, plastic, or cardboard, and at least one elastic band arranged to move the containers to the front as the front container is removed.

This application is an im rovement of my Patent No. 2,774,467, dated Dec. 18, 1956, and Patent No. 2,937,742, dated May 24, 1960, having the same title. The present application greatly improves the structural features of the box, eliminates many parts, and makes the device easier to manufacture and assembly.

The elastic or resilient member may be of rubber, plastic, or other equivalent. Neoprene would be preferable for use in cold storage or freezer chambers.

One purpose of this invention is to promote advertising display copy at point of purchase in retail stores, thereby, attracting the purchaser to a specific product when placed among competitive brands.

The display unit may be originally packed with enough units to make up a shipping container. The store clerk opens the shipping carton and is able to mark each individual product with his price marker. He then takes one display unit out and puts it on the shelf. This helps him fill a shelf in one motion.

The present invention improves the appearance of the product as the packages are maintained in uniform rows of common size or category. The present invention will also increase the shelf inventory due to an orderly arrangement of the articles. This will also have the effect of reducing storage room required in the storage part of the store.

The present invention therefore provides a neat and orderly arrangement on the shelf wherein different categories, for instance, flavors, cannot be mixed up. It improves the speed of stocking the shelf and automatically provides good stock rotation since the products are removed from the front and are replaced in the rear.

The present invention also provides means for making faster price changes since the packages are hzmdled in trays and the tops of the trays are open for easy price marking. This arrangement makes it easy for new clerks to operate efficiently.

The trays may be stacked and arranged in order to form a pleasing display at the point of purchase, since there is considerable space for advertising copy on the front and sides of the tray.

Another advantage is the automatic inventory control, as the trays become empty the automatic refiller indicator appears which is preferably marked with the flavor or category so that inventory requirements are automatically provided.

The customer is attracted to the product by the advertising copy. When she removes her purchase the merchandise from the rear moves forward automatically. The mechanism is activated by a simple, inexpensive elastic band of rubber, neoprene, plastic or spring means.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing tray or box or rack for the display of packaged merchandise on store shelves or counters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rack for dispensing merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved dispensing means for packaged merchandise of articles having means to feed the merchandise towards the front as packages or articles are removed from the front.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved container means for packages or articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing tray for articles comprising:

An enclosure formed from a single blank having integral front, back and side portions,

Said front portion comprising;

A doubled flap having tabs engaging in slots in said bottom and side portions; also glued flaps,

A closed resilient band connected between said doubled flap of said front member, said enclosure being adapted to hold a stack of articles and said band being adapted to enclose said articles in said enclosure whereby as articles are removed from the front of said enclosure,

Said band moves the remaining articles forward in said enclosure.

These and objects of the invention will be apparent on the following specifications and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank cut out for the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pusher refill indicator.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a display tray for two rows of articles.

FIGURE 5 is the blank form for the embodiment of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the figures, the invention comprises a dispensing tray 1, having a bottom portion 2 and an integral front, back and side portions 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. The enclosures are formed from a single blank shown in FIGURE 2 as will be explained. A resilient band, for instance a rubber band 7 is inserted into the front flap and is adapted to fit around the articles A, B, C, and D, within the enclosure 1.

The enclosures are placed on the shelf of the supermarket with the front side 3 adjacent the edge of the shelf. As the articles A, B, C, and so forth are removed from the container, the rubber band 7 will move the articles toward the front. This provides advantages over the adjacent competing products since they will be removed from the front of the shelf leaving a blank space on the front space.

FIGURE 2 shows the blank, for instance a cardboard blank from which the enclosure 1 is made by folding along the folded lines and inserting the tabs into the slots, as will be described, without the necessity of using glue or other fastening means. However, it may be glued, if desired.

More specifically referring to FIGURE 2, the bottom portion has a pair of slots 10 and 11 which are adapted to receive the tabs 10' and 11 when folded. The side portion 5 has slots 12 and 13 which are adapted to receive the tabs 12 and 13' and the side portion 6 has slots 14 and 15 which are adapted to receive the tabs 14' and 15'.

In order to construct the enclosure from the blank of FIGURE 2, the side portions are folded up along the score lines 5a and 6a and the end pieces along the score lines So and 4a. The front and rear flaps are folded along the score lines 3b and 412 respectively. The corner pieces are folded along 24), 21, 22, and 23. As the end flaps fold along 3a and 4a and the side pieces are folded up between 5a and 6a, the corner pieces will fold along the diagonal folded lines and are tucked inside at the corners during the folding. The corner pieces are folded by the front and rear flaps and tucked. The tabs 18" and 11' are inserted in slots 14 and 11. Also insert the tabs 12' and 13, 14', and 15' into the slots 12, 13, 14%, and 15. No glue is necessary as the tabs will provide a strong rigid container when fitted into the slots.

FIGURE 3 shows a pusher member which is preferably put in the embodiment of FTGURE 1. The pusher member is to be inserted behind the last .articles D and the pusher portions 25 and 25'" are folded over and tucked in between the articles B and C, of FIGURE 1. The pusher member has a pair of notches 26 and 27 which are adapted to receive and locate the rubber band from running down to the bottom of the articles, or up. The pusher member is preferably made of spring material such as plastic or cardboard and the fold lines are not sharply made so that assuming portion 25" was tucked in between the articles B and C of FIGURE 1, then when the article B was removed from the front of the enclosure or tray 1, then the pusher member will spring up as indicated by the dotted lines 25a. On the pusher portions 25' and 25" is printing indicating that it needs to be refilled, for instance the word Refill plus any additional advertising copy.

An advantage of the present dispensing tray is that the top of the boxes are available for easy price marking. The clerk merely removes the display from the shipping containers and places it on the shelf, where it is easily available for price marking by a rubber stamp or roller.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the invention adapted to dispense two rows of articles, for instance two categories of different flavors.

FIGURE 5 shows a blank for the embodiment for FIGURE 4.

This embodiment comprises a tray 34 generally similar to the tray of FIGURE 1. However, it is deeper and the folded flaps 31 and 32are split by the slot 33 so that two elastic bands 34 and 35 may be held under the folded flaps 31 and 2 respectively. This embodiment otherwise is constructed in the same manner and the blank is otherwise similar to the blank of FIGURE 2. FIGURE 5, also illustrates an alternative way of making the corners by eliminating the diagonal score lines and adding additional cuts and 41.

This embodiment operates in the same manner of that of FIGURE 1 and may utilize two pusher members such as shown in FIGURE 3. This embodiment is useful for display of articles in categories, for instance, different I flavors or colors.

Any number of categories may be accommodated in a single tray by making the tray suitable in dimensions and providing in the folded flaps for the desired number of elastic bands.

Another advantage of the present device is that the trays strengthen the outer shipping container. Therefore, a lighter and more economical outer shipping container may be used for packaging a number of loaded trays.

I claim:

1. A dispensing tray for articles comprising:

an enclosure formed from a single lank having integral front, back, and side portions,

said front portion comprising,

a doubled flap having tabs engaging in slots in said bottom and side portions,

a closed resilient band connected between said doubled flap of said front member, said enclosure being adapted to hold a stack of articles and said band being adapted to enclose said articles in said enclosure a slidable pusher member mounted in said enclosure at the rear of said articles,

said pusher member having a pair of side notches to receive and locate said band,

said pusher member extending upwardly behind the last article in said stack and then being bent forwardly over one or more articles and then tucked. between said articles whereby when the articles are removed from the front of said enclosure to the: point where said member is tucked into said stack" then said tucked in member will spring up and provide an indication that said enclosure needs refilling, whereby as articles are removed from the front of said enclosure said band moves the remaining articles forward in said enclosure. 2. In a dispensing tray for a stack of articles having an elastic band,

a slidable pusher member mounted in said tray at the rear of said articles, said pusher member having a pair of side notches to receive and locate said band,

said pusher member extending upwardly behind the last article in said stack and then being bent forwardly over one or more articles and then tucked between said articles whereby when the articles are removed from the front of said enclosure to the point where said member is tucked into said stack then said tucked in member will spring up and provide an indication that said enclosure needs refilling.

3. A dispensing tray for articles comprising:

an enclosure formed from a single blank having integral front, back, and side portions,

said front portion comprising,

a doubled flap having tabs engaging in slots in said bottom and side portions,

a closed resilient band connected inside said doubled flap of said front member, said enclosure being adapted to hold a stack of articles and said band being adapted to enclose said articles in said enclosure,

a slidable pusher member mounted in said enclosure at the rear of said articles,

said pusher member having a pair of side notches to receive and locate said band,

said pusher member extending upwardly behind the last article in said stack and then being bent forwardly over one or more articles and then tucked between said articles whereby when the articles are removed from the front of said enclosure to the point Where said member is tucked into said stack then said tucked in member will spring up and provide an indication that said enclosure needs refilling, and provides on sight inventory.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,602 Plauz June 8, 1926 2,308,818 Levkoif Jan. 19, 1943 2,414,763 Palmer Jan. 21, 1947 2,619,275 Bergstein Nov. 25, 1952 2,937,742 Michiel May 24, 1960 

1. A DISPENSING TRAY FOR ARTICLES COMPRISING: AN ENCLOSURE FORMED FROM A SINGLE LANK HAVING INTEGRAL FRONT, BACK, AND SIDE PORTIONS, SAID FRONT PORTION COMPRISING, A DOUBLED FLAP HAVING TABS ENGAGING IN SLOTS IN SAID BOTTOM AND SIDE PORTIONS, A CLOSED RESILIENT BAND CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID DOUBLED FLAP OF SAID FRONT MEMBER, SAID ENCLOSURE BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD A STACK OF ARTICLES AND SAID BAND BEING ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE SAID ARTICLES IN SAID ENCLOSURE A SLIDABLE PUSHER MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID ENCLOSURE AT THE REAR OF SAID ARTICLES, SAID PUSHER MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE NOTCHES TO RECEIVE AND LOCATE SAID BAND, SAID PUSHER MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY BEHIND THE LAST ARTICLE IN SAID STACK AND THEN BEING BENT FORWARDLY OVER ONE OR MORE ARTICLES AND THEN TUCKED BETWEEN SAID ARTICLES WHEREBY WHEN THE ARTICLES ARE REMOVED FROM THE FRONT OF SAID ENCLOSURE TO THE POINT WHERE SAID MEMBER IS TUCKED INTO SAID STACK THEN SAID TUCKED IN MEMBER WILL SPRING UP AND PROVIDE AN INDICATION THAT SAID ENCLOSURE NEEDS REFILLING, WHEREBY AS ARTICLES ARE REMOVED FROM THE FRONT OF SAID ENCLOSURE SAID BAND MOVES THE REMAINING ARTICLES FORWARD IN SAID ENCLOSURE. 